Steve Pond's Blog, page 69
July 31, 2025
Jimmy Fallon Starts a Hilarious Shouting Match Over ‘Hunting Wives’ While Talking About the Economy | Video
An ostensibly sober discussion of the Trump administration’s economic policies during Jimmy Fallon’s monologue on Thursday got hilariously derailed when the “Tonight Show” host got into a screaming argument with The Roots’ Tariq Trotter – over the hit Netflix series “The Hunting Wives.”
The bit started when Fallon talked a dispute between the Trump administration and the Federal Reserve, explaining, “Well, some more big news out of Washington. The Federal Reserve announced they’re not lowering interest rates, even though President Trump pushed hard for them to do so. It’s the steepest dispute between Trump and the Fed Chair Jerome Powell.”
Noting that it’s “a complex issue,” Fallon invited Trotter to explain the situation to the audience.
“So initially, Donald Trump and Jerome Powell started off on really strong foot. Like to use an example, they were like Margot and Sophie from ‘The Hunting Wives’ on Netflix. Much like Sophie, Jerome wasn’t looking for drama,” Trotter explained.
“Hey, hang on Tariq. I gotta stop you right there,” Fallon interjected.
“Well, are you confused? I can go even further back into the Fed’s history if that would be helpful,” Trotter offered.
“No, not necessary. I just think that you’re being a bit too kind to Sophie, I mean, she showed up to Maple Brook, Texas, determined to uproot her life,” Fallon said.
“Oh, give me a break. She only moved there because her husband got a job with Jed Banks! Her life was out of her own control. She was yearning for connection,” Trotter countered.
Fallon roared back, “the only thing she was yearning for was infidelity!”
“Don’t give me that. Margot played her!” Trotter yelled back. “Sophie opened up her heart and it got stomped on!”
“Oh, sure, sure, sure, sure. Blame Margot. Blame Margot. Do you even understand how difficult her upbringing was? And now she’s got this pressure to maintain her lifestyle as the future Texas first lady in friendships with Callie Taylor and that robotic Stepford wife, Jill,” Fallon replied.
“Don’t you DARE talk about Jill like that,” Trotter retorted. “She was stuck in a stale marriage and supporting her son’s future basketball career, all the while trying to keep a smile plastered on her face!”
“She was too obsessed with her son and she used the church to get what she wanted,” Fallon shot back. “You know, it’s true, admit it!”
“Brad was an entitled high schooler doing the bare minimum in all aspects of his life. His girlfriend, Abby deserved better. His best friend Jamie deserved better, and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell deserves better!” Trotter said.
“That was really informative. Thanks. Tariq,” Fallon suddenly said. “My pleasure, my pleasure,” Trotter replied.
Watch the whole amusing monologue below:
The post Jimmy Fallon Starts a Hilarious Shouting Match Over ‘Hunting Wives’ While Talking About the Economy | Video appeared first on TheWrap.
Kamala Harris Tells Stephen Colbert She’s Not Running for CA Governor Because the Political System Is ‘Broken’ | Video
Kamala Harris had a somewhat bleak assessment of the situation in America during her appearance Thursday night on “The Late Show,” telling host Stephen Colbert that she isn’t running for California governor because because America’s political system is “broken.”
The former Vice President — and the 2024 Democratic nominee for President — appeared on the show for her first interview since the election, where in addition to explaining why she won’t try to replace Gavin Newsom she also warned that American institutions aren’t “as strong as they need to be” against Trump. Though she did insist “I’m always going to be part of the fight.”
Watch her comments in a preview clip, released ahead of the episode’s full broadcast, below:
View this post on InstagramA post shared by The Late Show (@colbertlateshow)
The clip began with Colbert noting that Harris beat every other candidate by double digits,” in early polling and yet will not run for California’s top job. “Why are you sitting this out? Are you saving yourself for a different office that might be–“
Harris denied she’s saving herself for 2028 — though she didn’t rule out a presidential run, instead sticking to the present moment.
“No, no, obviously people project, and honestly, it’s more, perhaps basic than that. I am, listen. I am a devout public servant. I have spent my entire career in service of the people. And I thought a lot about running for governor,” she said. “I love my state. I love California.”
Recounting her career, Harris, told Colbert that early in her career, “I had to defend my decision to become a prosecutor with my family. And one of the points that I made is, why is it, then, when we think we want to improve the system or change it, that we’re always on the outside, on bended knee or trying to break down the door? Shouldn’t we also be inside the system? And that has been my career.”
However, she continued, “I made the decision that I, just for now, I don’t want to go back in the system. I think it’s broken.”
“I think it’s there’s so much. I mean, there are so many good people who are public servants who do such good work, teachers and firefighters and police officers and nurses and scientists, scientists,” Harris added. “And so it’s not about them, but, you know, I believe, and I always believed that as fragile as our democracy is, our systems would be strong enough to defend our most fundamental principles.”
You could almost feel the “but” coming, and it did, with Harris continuing, “I think right now that they’re not as strong as they need to be, and I just don’t want it for now. I don’t want to go back and go back in the system. I want to travel the country. I want to listen to people. I want to talk with people, and I don’t want it to be transactional.”
Colbert replied that to hear Harris “say that it’s broken, to hear you say that our systems aren’t strong enough. Is harrowing.”
“Well, but it’s also evident, isn’t it?” Harris countered, adding, “it doesn’t mean we give up. That’s not my point, okay? Because that’s what I’m hearing. Like, you don’t want to be part No, oh, absolutely not. I’m always going to be part of the fight.”
The post Kamala Harris Tells Stephen Colbert She’s Not Running for CA Governor Because the Political System Is ‘Broken’ | Video appeared first on TheWrap.
‘Project Runway’ Revamp: How the Fashion Series Infused Comedy and Spectacle in Move to Disney
Over twenty years after first launching on Bravo, “Project Runway” is getting a revamp. The beloved fashion competition underwent a complete creative overhaul as it moved from Bravo to Disney and Freeform, bringing back original host Heidi Klum and embracing fresh voices in fashion by welcoming celebrity stylist Law Roach as a judge.
But for executive producer Michael Rucker, who returns to “Project Runway” after serving as an EP for the first five seasons before the show’s Season 6 move to Lifetime, the revamp is more than just a switch-up of the judging panel; it’s a much-needed chance to infuse comedy and spectacle back into the series.
“The format was tried and true, but … from a visual storytelling standard point, I feel like it rested on its laurels,” Rucker told TheWrap. “After those first five seasons, it drifted away from funny moments … and moments of awkwardness.”
That’s why Rucker embraced the show, which moved back to Bravo for Seasons 18-20, heading to Disney’s Freeform, where Rucker had seen the network lean into comedy and “what’s happening in the cultural zeitgeist” while executive producing Freeform series “Chrissy & Dave Dine Out.” “I wanted to make sure that this season really had … a little bit more of that comedy, those fun, almost meme-able moments that weren’t as embraced at other locations.”
Rucker also wanted the new series to embrace where fashion is at today, which meant upping the spectacle fashion shows from the typical Bryant Park fashion week tents for the finale, with Rucker saying, “where the fashion world is today is, [designers will do shows] out in the desert … [or] alongside the Seine in Paris.”
“We really want to embrace where fashion is,” Rucker said, adding that most fashion is shared on a phone nowadays. “You need something that’s visually kind of arresting to tell that story.”
Rucker and the team didn’t want the revamp to be so overarching that they lost the DNA of “Project Runway,” though. “There’s always going to be challenges. There’s always going to be passionate designers, but I think that we really wanted to evolve and the show visually, emotionally [and] conversationally,” Rucker said, promising that this season would have an unconventional challenge.
Bringing back Klum certainly brings “Project Runway” back to its core as the supermodel hosted the show for its first 16 seasons, before exiting “Project Runway” alongside mentor extraordinaire Tim Gunn to pursue a more professional-focused fashion competition show with Prime Video’s “Making the Cut.” Similar to Rucker, Klum wanted to make sure her return came with a refresh to the show.
“She wanted to feel like it was less rigid,” Rucker said. “She’s very German — she loves to do stuff in sequence, but she also is goofy and funny, and that’s something that she really wanted to embrace in the show.”
Klum returns to “Project Runway” alongside mentor and Season 4 winner Christian Siriano as well as judge Nina Garcia, but welcomes in a newcomer in Law Roach, who’s best known for being Zendaya’s longtime stylist. The new addition infuses “Project Runway” with a contemporary voice in fashion that Rucker compares to longtime judge Michael Kors. But O.G. fans can look forward to Kors making an appearance later this season as a guest judge.
“‘Project Runway’ started and sort of birthed where Law Roach is now, and that’s where I think Law really kind of comes with that very similar type of critical eye that Michael Kors had, but it comes from his own perspective, his background in fashion, in his own taste,” Rucker said.
Christian Siriano, Nina Garcia, Law Roach and Heidi Klum on “Project Runway” (Disney/Spencer Pazer)There’s one familiar face not returning to “Project Runway,” however: Tim Gunn. Gunn served as “Project Runway’s” beloved mentor for the show’s first 16 seasons before departing the show alongside Klum. For this new iteration of “Project Runway,” Siriano, who replaced Gunn as mentor for Season 17 onward, remains in the role.
Whereas Karlie Kloss, who replaced Klum as host for Seasons 17 and 18, had begun limiting her involvement in the show back in Season 19 — leaving the show without a formal host up until Klum’s return — Siriano remained as the show’s mentor since picking it up from Gunn, which Rucker and the team wanted to honor.
That said, Rucker said “the door is always open” for Gunn to potentially return in some manner.
Antonio Estrada, Caycee Black, Madeline Malenfant, Joseph Mcrae and Belania Daley (Disney/Spencer Pazer)This season’s 16 designers include some familiar faces, including Season 7 alum Jesus Estrada — and his twin brother, Antonio — Season 19 alum Caycee Black, as well as “RuPaul’s Drag Race” star Utica Queen, who enters the competition as Ethan Mundt. From the “Project Runway” alums searching for a redemption arc to Mundt exploring the world of fashion outside of the drag community, the stories of the contestants this seasons were embraced by Rucker and the team in the new iteration.
“There have been a lot of different fashion shows that have come and gone — some of which I’ve worked on beyond ‘Project Runway’ — and I think that the thing that ‘Project Runway’ at its heart is there’s always been storytelling about these designers, and you got to know them on a more personal level and less of a caricature level,” Rucker said.
“Project Runway” Season 21 premieres Thursday, July 31 at 9 p.m. ET on Freeform, with new episodes airing weekly at 10 p.m. ET. Episodes will stream on Hulu the next day.
The post ‘Project Runway’ Revamp: How the Fashion Series Infused Comedy and Spectacle in Move to Disney appeared first on TheWrap.
‘Chief of War’ Review: Jason Momoa Turns Hawaiian Folklore Into an Ambitious TV Epic That Rivals ‘Game of Thrones’
Ten years in the making, Jason Momoa and Thomas Pa’a Sibbett bring their passion project to life with the visually stunning, action-packed and culturally significant series, “Chief of War.” The Apple TV+ drama tells the story of the unification and colonization of Hawaii at the turn of the 18th century from an indigenous perspective.
It’s undoubtedly one of the most ambitious series in recent memory, as it takes a heavy and delicate subject matter but manages to make it action-packed and informative in equal measures, which can be a tough line to tow. I knew very little, if anything, about the history of Hawaii. However, after watching “Chief of War,” I felt inspired to research the various real-life figures and what happened to them after the events of the 10-episode series.
The importance of “Chief of War” stretches beyond entertainment as it gives native Hawaiians a platform to reclaim their history and tell the story of their people by bringing it to a mainstream audience. This is a big responsibility for Momoa and the cast and crew to ensure authenticity, which they achieve with cultural advisors in every production department. Also, even the inclusion of Hawaiian language dialogue was a culturally-significant moment as the language almost became extinct after it was banned from being taught in Hawaiian schools in 1896. Now, millions of people get to hear the language take center stage on one of the biggest shows of 2025.
Beyond the cultural impact, “Chief of War” is also a bloody entertaining TV show that boasts incredible performances from its cast.
This could be a bold claim, but the show will be the making of Luciane Buchanan. The New Zealand actress has already made waves with Netflix’s “The Night Agent,” but her star-turning performance as Ka’ahumanu is a game-changer. In playing the queen consort and one of Kamehameha I’s wives, Buchanan brings emotionality and pathos as her character must balance prophecy and tradition with the changing landscape of the modern world and the evil forces that threaten it.
Another stellar performance was by the mohawk-sporting Cliff Curtis, who was impeccable as Keōua. The New Zealander’s performance added a real gruesome edge to the show, portraying Keōua like a Marvel villain in the way that he seemed an indestructible threat to the protagonists and their way of life. Though the character could have benefited from more scenes exploring the reasons for his madness.
Luciane Buchanan in “Chief of War.” (Apple TV+)Perhaps the greatest character of “Chief of War” was the Polynesian islands with wide sweeping shots of filming locations in New Zealand and Hawaii, adding real drama and surreal beauty to the drama. Not even the bloody battles and violence could stop this from being a great advertisement to hop on a plane and take in the incredible sights that the islands have to offer.
It could be the New Zealand backdrop and violent battles that are clouding my judgment, but it felt like “Chief of War” took heavy inspiration from “Lord of the Rings.” And just like the Tolkien stories, “Chief of War” thrived when it leant into the mystical and fantastical.
The old world superstitions and beliefs of the native Hawaiians were represented hauntingly by the Prophetess. While it’s hard to strike the balance between being an authentic representation of history and an entertaining show, I would have loved to see more of the surrealist moments, as that created such a unique atmosphere within the show.
And just like “Lord of the Rings,” “Chief of War” knows exactly how to produce an epic battle scene that had the audience on the edge of their seats with high-octane action.
Jason Momoa and Temuera Morrison in “Chief of War.” (Apple TV+)Without giving much away, the final battle sequence was the perfect climax to a dramatic and well-crafted series. It was fast-paced, exhilarating and ultra-violent — the image of Momoa ripping someone’s tongue out of their throat and biting it comes to mind.
“Chief of War” writer and lead star Momoa made his big Hollywood breakthrough on “Game of Thrones,” and comparisons have already been made between the two shows as the audience are taken on an epic adventure to different lands, minus the fire-breathing dragons.
Whilst I can’t see the upcoming Apple TV+ show having as big a cultural impact as “Game of Thrones,” I am incredibly optimistic and excited about the future of “Chief of War.” There are no confirmed plans for future seasons, but Momoa and Thomas Pa’a Sibbett have got something special on their hands. The promising first season has given them a perfect launching pad to further showcase the rich culture and powerful stories of native Hawaiians that have been waiting to be told.
“Chief of War” premieres Friday, Aug. 1, on Apple TV+.
The post ‘Chief of War’ Review: Jason Momoa Turns Hawaiian Folklore Into an Ambitious TV Epic That Rivals ‘Game of Thrones’ appeared first on TheWrap.
Richard Quest Burns Scott Jennings on CNN Over Trump Tariffs Spat, Says He’s Not a Real Journalist | Video
Things got heated between colleagues Richard Quest and Scott Jennings Wednesday night during a “CNN NewsNight” panel discussing the effect of President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs nearly four months after his so-called “Liberation Day.”
In the middle of a crosstalking debate over the state of the economy and the looming effects of Trump’s policies, Jennings implied that his beliefs were simply informed by his role as a journalist, arguing he reported on the data in front of him. Quest quickly objected to this point.
“It’s too early to give a final verdict on the tariffs,” Quest said. “You may wish to, but at the moment, it can’t be said what the long-term effect is going to be.”
“I am just a journalist –” Jennings started.
“No you’re not!” Quest fired back.
You can watch the spat below:
"You took your shoe off, and you said there was going to be a recession."
— Thomas Hern (@ThomasMHern) July 31, 2025
Scott Jennings calls out CNN economist Richard Quest for being wrong about prediction claiming President Trump would cause a recession.
Abby Phillip forgets she is a moderator and joins Quest in argument. pic.twitter.com/7Kra5jYiDu
Joining CNN anchor Abby Phillip was a group of guests, including Quest and Jennings. The segment started when Phillip tossed Quest a question about the “weird” current state of the GDP. The Quest Means Business anchor emphasized that it’s too soon to tell what the eventual effects of Trump’s proposed tariffs will be.
“The Wall Street Journal described this as a weird GDP report because there’s a lot of stuff inside the numbers. Headline number is good, but what do you see on the inside?” Phillip asked.
“We do not know the full effects of the tariffs yet. We — to put this in perspective, pre-Donald Trump, the average U.S. tariff was 3%. Today, the average U.S. tariff is 17%, which is the highest level since Smoot-Hawley in the 1920s and ’30s,” Quest said. “We cannot know at this point exactly how that’s going to play out, which is why the fed held interest rates as they — there are two dissenters, yes, two dissenters, I’ll give you that — but they held for the time being simply because, as Jerome Powell says, we just don’t know.”
Jennings quickly jumped on the opportunity to deride Quest and the rest of the panel — which included Shermichael Singleton, Amanda Berman and Chuck Rocha — for predicting a recession after Trump’s Liberation Day.
“I would just like to go — I’d like to build a DeLorean and go back to April when everybody here was predicting likely to cause a recession, investment stops when a recession happens,” Jennings said. “They’re not talking about a U.S. recession, they’re talking about a global recession.”
“What was happening in April, Scott?” Phillip asked.
The group erupted into a collection of panelists talking over each other. After Quest’s quip, the commentator followed by bashing the tariffs one final time — much to Jennings’ chagrin.
“These trade deals are garbage,” Quest said.
“Garbage?” Jennings asked.
“Yes.”
The post Richard Quest Burns Scott Jennings on CNN Over Trump Tariffs Spat, Says He’s Not a Real Journalist | Video appeared first on TheWrap.
Jon Stewart Remembers Creepy Meeting With Roger Ailes in the ‘Bowels of Fox News’: ‘Yelled at Each Other for About an Hour’ | Video
Jon Stewart had an interaction with former Fox News president Roger Ailes that still chills him to the bone.
While speaking with Medhi Hasan on “The Weekly Show” podcast Thursday, the Comedy Central star explained that his presence was once requested for “one of those bananas-type meetings in the bowels of Fox News” with Ailes after he had guested on “The O’Reilly Factor.”
To hear Stewart tell it, “The Daily Show” host had gone after Ailes and his Fox News for the entirety of his run on the show and the late network president wanted thanks.
“I used to go on Bill O’Reilly’s show. Every now and again they would bring in the, you know, ‘clownish liberal’ – myself – and I would go on there,” he began. “And one day, one of the people came down and said Mr. Ailes would like to see you. And I thought, ‘Why? Geez, I didn’t even know he lived in the building.'”
Stewart continued: “We had to walk through the kind of ‘Get Smart’ — doors would open and shut. You didn’t really know where you were until you got into this one part of the building that was colder than the other parts of the building. You almost felt the hair on the back of your neck and the chill, and you could see everybody’s breath in this one part. And he and I yelled at each other in the office for about an hour. He wanted me to show appreciation to him, because without him I have no career. And I wanted him to stop poisoning the atmosphere around the country.”
“And harassing his blonde hosts,” podcast guest Mehdi Hasan chimed in.
Ailes also mentioned the meeting between the two in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter back in 2015 as Stewart’s time on “The Daily Show” was coming to an end. The then-president had a much cheerier perspective on the meeting.
“You can’t say that many negative things about people unless you’re really unhappy about something,” Ailes said. “I actually think he doesn’t dislike me. We met once or twice. I talked to him for an hour once in my office. I think he’s really smart, and he’s got a great future.”
Stewart and Hasan marveled at Ailes’ strategy for dealing with discourse and opposition from the left. It happens to be the same playbook used today by most of the right — most prominently by President Donald Trump and his supporters, they said.
“His methodology was: ‘I am going to discredit all of the institutions or any of the voices that may in any way harm my movement. I’m going to make sure that editorial authority is seen as elitism. I am going to exercise authoritarian control over my message machine,'” Stewart explained. “And that’s, I think, the genius of that movement.”
Hasan just went viral for debating a number of right-wing enthusiasts on Jubilee’s YouTube page earlier this month. He explained the difficulties that came with having those conversations because the people he was debating don’t play by the same rules.
“Liberals and Democrats and Leftists have got to understand that you are not on some ridiculous even playing field,” he said. “I’ve been hearing this since Donald Trump came down the escalator in 2015 – ‘just because they don’t play by the rules doesn’t mean we shouldn’t.’ No that’s exactly what it means!”
Watch the full “Weekly Show” episode below:
The post Jon Stewart Remembers Creepy Meeting With Roger Ailes in the ‘Bowels of Fox News’: ‘Yelled at Each Other for About an Hour’ | Video appeared first on TheWrap.
Warner Bros. Sets Post-Split Multiyear Contracts With JB Perrette and Bruce Campbell
Warner Bros. Discovery set up new contracts with senior executives JB Perrette and Bruce Campbell as the company prepares to split in two.
The deals extend Perrette’s tenure through Dec. 31, 2029, and Campbell’s through Dec. 31, 2030, according to an SEC filing shared Thursday. The contract extensions are contingent on completion of WBD’s expected separation into Warner Bros., which consists of the film studio, HBO and streaming assets, and Discovery Global, which will house the company’s linear networks.
Perrette is set to remain in his current role as president and CEO of global streaming and games at Warner Bros. Campbell is expectef to shift from chief revenue and strategy officer into Warner Bros. COO.
The company previously announced that Warner Bros. will be led by current President and CEO of WBD David Zaslav, and Discovery Global will be led by current CFO of WBD Gunnar Wiedenfels. The company is set to separate into two media companies in mid 2026.
“We will proudly continue the more than century-long legacy of Warner Bros. through our commitment to bringing culture-defining stories, characters and entertainment to audiences around the world,” Zaslav said in a statement to press. “With our unmatched portfolio of storytelling IP coupled with our incredible creative partners and now an executive team of proven, bold and committed creative and corporate leaders, we are in a strong position to launch and continue to meaningfully grow a company worthy of our storied past.”
“As we prepare for the launch of Discovery Global, our enthusiasm for the opportunities ahead only grows thanks to our leading portfolio of beloved brands and programming, our worldwide footprint for adults, kids and families and now the experienced and talented leadership team who will ensure strong operational execution to drive strategic investments and deliver compelling content to global audiences,” Wiedenfels said.
The post Warner Bros. Sets Post-Split Multiyear Contracts With JB Perrette and Bruce Campbell appeared first on TheWrap.
Megyn Kelly Slams Sen. Elissa Slotkin’s Stephen Colbert Interview, Says She Wanted to ‘Punch Her in the Face’ | Video
Sen. Elissa Slotkin’s (D-MI) interview with Stephen Colbert didn’t sit well with podcaster Megyn Kelly — in fact, it reminded her how badly she wanted to punch her in the face, she said Thursday.
On “The Megyn Kelly Show,” the host slammed Slotkin over her interview on “The Late Show” about the Deep State and the military. While talking about the interview, Kelly walked listeners back to the confirmation hearings for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and how “condescending” the senator was.
“This woman is one of the most annoying women in politics, [and] people in politics,” Kelly said. “When she was at that Pete Hegseth confirmation hearing, I wanted to punch her in the face. She was so condescending to him.”
She added: “Every comment was like, ‘I will accept that you might actually care about the men and women in uniform.’ Eff you. He doesn’t need your pat on the head. He’s been there and done that. He’s got buddies he lost. He doesn’t need you, Elissa Slotkin, to verify his courage, his patriotism, love of country and so on. It’s just so infuriating … She’s so f–king annoying.”
Watch the “Megyn Kelly Show” segment below:
Kelly has been going after Colbert and his show particularly hard in the wake of CBS’ decision to cancel the show. She suggested that the late-night host “put on your big boy pants and take it like a man.”
“Many of us have had very public cancellations and some were absolutely brutal,” Kelly added. “And we didn’t invite all our friends to come cry on the set and say, ‘Poor poor her. Poor poor him. American democracy will not be the same.’ Some of us took it like professionals, then picked ourselves up, dusted ourselves off, and moved on with life. Is this how it’s going to be for the next year? Watching this crybaby try to play the victim that his show got cancelled? Grow up. It’s called television, you toddler.”
Representatives for Sen. Slotkin did not respond to TheWrap’s request for comment.
The post Megyn Kelly Slams Sen. Elissa Slotkin’s Stephen Colbert Interview, Says She Wanted to ‘Punch Her in the Face’ | Video appeared first on TheWrap.
An Unrecognizable Jim Caviezel Stars as Herod the Great in Angel Studios’ Nativity Thriller ‘Zero A.D.’ | Exclusive
“Zero A.D.” will be here before you know it.
The latest from faith-based Angel Studios, which tells the story of the Virgin Mary (Deva Cassel), Joseph (Jamie Ward) and their very special child, arrives in theaters on December 19. And we’ve got the exclusive new trailer, which you can watch below.
First of all – yes, that is Jim Caviezel under all of that make-up as Herod the Great. Sam Worthington plays his son Antipater, with Ben Mendelsohn and Gael García Bernal also in the cast. It looks like the kind of old fashioned religious epic that used to be a regular part of Hollywood’s output but has dwindled in recent decades.
Along with the new trailer comes this TheWrap exclusive image of Cassel as the mother of Jesus:
Angel StudiosMonteverde’s “Sound of Freedom,” also released by Angel Studios, was a genuine phenomenon, earning $251 million against a $14.5 million, which was enough to make it one of the most successful independently produced films in history. Originally titled “Bethlehem,” “Zero A.D.” shot in Morocco late last year.
“Zero A.D.” will be going up against James Cameron’s highly anticipated “Avatar: Fire and Ash” (also starring Worthington) and Paramount’s “The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants,” when it releases this Christmas.
“Zero A.D.” hits theaters on December 19.
The post An Unrecognizable Jim Caviezel Stars as Herod the Great in Angel Studios’ Nativity Thriller ‘Zero A.D.’ | Exclusive appeared first on TheWrap.
Comcast Profit Jumps 183% on $9.4 Billion Sale of Hulu Stake
Comcast Corporation saw a substantial net income lift in the second quarter of 2025, owing to the sale of its Hulu share to Disney. Net income was reported as $11.1 billion on Thursday thanks to the $9.4 billion the company received from the sale.
Revenue also increased 2.1% year-over-year to hit $30.3 billion. This was partially due to growth in the company’s Content and Experiences division, which saw a 6% uptick in revenue due to the opening of Universal’s latest Orlando theme park, Epic Universe. Connectivity revenue also increased 5.4% due to growth in domestic broadband and wireless as well as international connectivity and business services connectivity.
As for the television and film side of the business, media EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) increased 9.3% year-over-year to hit $1.5 billion. This uptick was largely driven by Peacock, which increased its revenue by 18% to hit $1.2 billion during the quarter, as well as decreases in programming and production costs. Peacock’s EBITDA losses accounted for $101 million, a $247 million improvement from the year prior.
The studios division saw a EBITDA decrease of 31%, accounting for $85 million. Despite seeing an 8% increase in revenue over the quarter, higher operating expenses led to the overall decline. Specifically, those expenses reflected higher costs connected to content licensing sales as well as higher marketing and
promotion expenses spent on both recent and upcoming theatrical film releases. Two of the company’s buzziest movies — the live action “How to Train Your Dragon” and “Jurassic World: Rebirth” — premiered in summer, which partially accounted for the increased costs. The profits from both of those movies will likely be better reflected in Comcast’s third quarter report.
Here are the key takeaways:
Net income: $11.1 billion, up 183% year over year. On an adjusted basis, net income fell 1.7% to $4.65 billion.
Earnings per share: $2.98 per share, compared to $4.06 per share expected by analysts surveyed by Yahoo Finance.
Revenue: $30.3 billion, compared to $123.6 billion expected by analysts surveyed by Yahoo Finance.
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The latest quarterly results come as Comcast is preparing to spin off its cable network portfolio into a publicly traded, standalone company called Versant by the end of 2025. Versant, which is expected to reach over 65 million U.S. households and generate $7 billion in annual revenue, will house MSNBC, CNBC, USA Network, Oxygen, E!, SYFY, Golf Channel and digital assets Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow and SportsEngine.
The move will be tax-free to Comcast’s shareholders. Last week, Versant unveiled its full board of directors, which will include its CEO Mark Lazarus, former Yum Brands! CEO David Novak as chairman and Disney’s former international content and operations chairman Rebecca Campbell, among others.
It also comes as NBCUniversal recently closed its upfront negotiations, touting a nearly 15% year over year increase in ad commitments across its broadcast offerings, including news, sports and entertainment. It also said it was the largest digital upfront and strongest sports upfront in history, though it offered no hard numbers.
Versant, which will continue to be represented by NBCU in the next two upfront cycles, saw a nearly 10% increase in clients investing in its brands, while Peacock saw an over 20% year over year increase, representing nearly a third of the media giant’s total upfront commitments. The company’s new 11-year media rights deal with the NBA contributed to a 20% increase in new clients compared to the 2024-2025 season and a 45% year over year increase in volume. Over 25% of NBCUniversal’s NBA advertisers will be new to broadcast this year.
Peacock has hiked the price of its plans by $3 per month, with its premium plan hitting $10.99 per month and premium plus plan hitting $16.99 per month. The change took effect for new customers on July 23 and will impact existing customers on Aug. 22. It also is testing a $7.99 per month Select tier, which will feature current seasons of NBC and Bravo programming and a broad assortment of library titles.
More to come…
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